Welcome! In this module we will explore social development in toddlers and preschool children. Specifically, we will look at strategies parents might use to help children develop psychosocial skills and behaviors.
Think about these questions:
How do we know what young children are thinking and feeling?
How can we assess the child's developmental stage?
What can parents and other caregivers do to stimulate psycho-social skill development?
Objectives for this lesson include:
Describe behavioral manifestations of social awareness and prosocial behavior.
Observe ways that children's literature or television programming might assist parents in helping children develop these skills.
Share your reactions to one or more examples of prosocial behavior exhibited by young children.
Read Chapter 8 of your textbook and then consider the following:
When Alison Gopnik got home from the lab one day, she was overcome woth the feeling that she was a lousy teacher, an incompetent scientist, and a bad mother. A student had argued about a grade, a grant proposal had been rejected, and the chicken legs she had planned to feed her children for dinner were still in the freezer. So the University of California deveopmental psychologist collapsed on the couch and started to cry. Her son, almost 2, sized up the situation like a little pro. He dashed to the bathroom, fumbled for what he needed and returned with Band Aids -- which he proceeded to stick all over his sobbing (and now startled) mother, figuring that eventually he would find the place that needed patching. (Begley, 2000, p.25)
Write several paragraphs in response to these questions:
+ In what ways do the actions of Alison Gopnik's son indicate that he is developing a social awareness?
+ Are Erikson's stages of psychosocial development helpful in interpreting the boys actions in this instance? Why or why not?
+ How might the social learning approaches to the concept of empathy explain the son's reaction?
Complete two of the following:
1) Visit a preschool or daycare center and spend at least half an hour observing children in interaction with one another during play. Keep a log of actions you feel exemplify social awareness. Go to the course discussion and summarize your experience and share your observations with your classmates.
2) Watch one or more episodes of programming geared to preschool on PBS -- Sesame Street, Barney, Teletubbies, etc. Note the segments that are designed to promote social awareness, empathy and prosocial behavior. Go to the course discussion and summarize your experience and share your observations with your classmates.
3) Select a children's book that conveys a lesson ("the moral of the story is..." to children. Examples might be "Horton Hears a Who", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" or "Star-Bellied Sneeches" all by Dr. Seuss. Make a list of three or four questions that stimulate social awareness that you might ask children as you read the story to them. Read your book to a toddler or preschooler and ask your questions. Note their answers. Describe your experience (summary of story, questions, child's responses) and your reaction to it in a one page paper.
4) Meet with a group of 3 - 4 preschool children. Provide them with crayons and paper and ask them to draw a picture that shows how people help one another. When they have finished, ask them to tell you about the picture. Record their explanations and analyze the responses. Collect the pictures and submit them with a one page summary of the explanations and your reaction to the experience.
Go on to the mastery activities and games in the links given below. When finished, take the quiz and move on to the next assignment.
Bibliography
Begley, S. (2000). Wired for Thought. "Newsweek Special Issue: Your Child," 25-30.
Berger, K. (2001). The Developing Person through the Lifespan, 5th edition. Worth Publishers.
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